We were awakened at 5am by a light knock at our door with a tray of coffee. We quickly dressed in our trekking gear (hiking boots, two layers of clothes to peel off with minimum skin exposed). Enjoyed a full breakfast then headed down the hill to our driver. They put "gators" or coverings around our boots to our knees before leaving then we headed down the other side of the mountain through some villages to the Volcanoes National Park. Gathered at the park were the total of 80 people allowed each day to view the gorillas alone with the 10 guides. We were asked to pick a short, medium or long trek. We, as most people picked, a medium. We are not sure what we ended up with. While the guides were gathered away from the pavilion us trekkers were entertained by local people presenting different African dances and drum beats. Finally we were summoned to a spot where our guide was to meet us and give us the first of a series of instructions on trekking gorillas. Our guide was a young man of small statue but with an obvious delightful, energetic personality. He was carrying a sign that said Sabyinyo Group. This turns out to be the gorilla group we were to see. We were quickly informed we had hit the jackpot and were assigned the most important gorilla group featuring three silverbacks including the largest of them all, Gohunda. We were also informed that number 3 silverback was fighting number 2 for his position so we might get some real entertainment. We were also informed that they had moved overnight down from high up in the mountain down to the bamboo, were the juices had an intoxicating effect, which could mean we would observe a party atmosphere. We piled back into the Land Rover and headed to the base of the mountains. It was recommended to use a porter for each person to carry your backpack of lunch and water to provide the locals with more jobs. We were also issued a hand carved walking cane to assist with the trek. Then off through the crop fields just blooming (remember it is spring south of the equator) at the base of the mountains then into the jungle of undergrowth and tall bamboo. The guide learned via radio from the native gorilla trackers that the Sabyinyo group was moving constantly. So, up and up we went through the jungle and bamboo with occasional open spaces where buffalo and elephant tracks were encountered. Finally we begin to get close and Jim was selected to be a group of 4 tracking the broken branches and eaten bamboo toward the gorillas. We heard the group as we approached then all of a sudden humans walked out of the bushes coming from the sound of the gorillas. We learned they were veterinarians that routinely checked the health of the gorillas. We greeted them and learned the Sabyinyo group is healthy and in good spirits but number 3, has been hurt by number 2 in a fight but they told us the wounds will heal naturally. So the guide takes over and leads us into the area where the gorillas are located. We first saw two moms with children, some blackbacks (younger than 12 males) then number 2, walked out of the bushes, stopped to check us out, then number 3 came out with a wound in his silverback area. As if it was an intentional grand finale, Gohunda comes out of the bushes and he is really huge. Then the Sabyinyo group follows Gohunda and moves to another spot to eat a little then they all seem to go off in different directions. We hustle to keep up with them and come out to an opening surrounded by bushes. Then as if on cue, the moms come out and pass through the opening, then the blackbacks appear with one literally coming at Jim and Kendall head on. We have been taught to kneel and act submissive and moan which we immediately do. It is clear either we or him is going to have to move but we are taught to remain still. Since Kendall is a female, he veers toward her passing within in inches but puts his front hand on her knee in the process. Jim in enjoying the excitement while Kendall is FREAKING OUT The blackback gorilla passed without any issue and headed into the jungle again. Then Gohunda appears and the group heads off.

Our hour with the Sabyinyo group was announced complete (they have learned any humans over an hour will get them upset) we head out of the jungle down the mountain. We find a nice grass open area where we sit and look out at the huge volcano mountains and enjoy the packed lunch the lodge had provided. We learn from some members of the group that had tracked the day before and the guide that we just experienced one the best ever encounters. By the time we get back to the Land Rover we are bushed but very happy with the experience. More picture will be posed soon.

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